National Guard member dies, second “combating for his life” after D.C. taking pictures, Trump says

One of the 2 West Virginia National Guard members who was wounded Wednesday in what authorities described as an ambush-style taking pictures in Washington, D.C., has died, President Trump stated Thursday.

Mr. Trump advised reporters Thursday night that 20-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died within the hospital.

“Right now I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of many guardsmen that we’re speaking about, extremely revered, younger, magnificent particular person, began service in June of 2023, excellent in each approach, she has simply handed away,” Mr. Trump stated.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro stated the second sufferer, 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, was in important situation after present process surgical procedure.

Mr. Trump advised reporters that Wolfe is “combating for his life, he is in very dangerous form.”

“Hopefully, we’ll get higher information in respect to him,” Mr. Trump added.

Mr. Trump additionally stated the suspect within the taking pictures, beforehand recognized as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was in critical situation. 

Pirro stated Thursday that each Guard members had been sworn into Guard responsibility lower than 24 hours earlier than the assault. The National Guard’s joint activity power for the district later clarified that the 2 had been serving within the district since August, they usually had been deputized earlier than the assault to take care of their standing to conduct patrols.  

Although they had been deputized for deployment, the 2 Guard members weren’t working as regulation enforcement and didn’t have arrest powers, a number of sources conversant in the investigation advised CBS News Wednesday evening.   

This is a growing story and will probably be up to date.